Тарзан, приёмыш обезьян
“King of the Apes”
Hesawthatthesepeopleweremorewickedthanhisownapes,andassavageandcruelasSabor,herself.Tarzanbegantoholdhisownkindinlowesteem.
Nowtheyhadtiedtheirpoorvictimtoagreatpostnearthecenterofthevillage,directlybeforeMbonga’shut,andheretheyformedadancing,yellingcircleofwarriorsabouthim,alivewithflashingknivesandmenacingspears.
Inalargercirclesquattedthewomen,yellingandbeatingupondrums.ItremindedTarzanoftheDum-Dum,andsoheknewwhattoexpect.Hewonderediftheywouldspringupontheirmeatwhileitwasstillalive.TheApesdidnotdosuchthingsasthat.
Thecircleofwarriorsaboutthecringingcaptivedrewcloserandclosertotheirpreyastheydancedinwildandsavageabandontothemaddeningmusicofthedrums.Presentlyaspearreachedoutandprickedthevictim.Itwasthesignalforfiftyothers.
Eyes,ears,armsandlegswerepierced;everyinchofthepoorwrithingbodythatdidnotcoveravitalorganbecamethetargetofthecruellancers.
Thewomenandchildrenshriekedtheirdelight.
Thewarriorslickedtheirhideouslipsinanticipationofthefeasttocome,andviedwithoneanotherinthesavageryandloathsomenessofthecruelindignitieswithwhichtheytorturedthestillconsciousprisoner.
ThenitwasthatTarzanoftheApessawhischance.Alleyeswerefixeduponthethrillingspectacleatthestake.